Vijayashree Natarajan, SVP – Head of Technology at Omega Healthcare Management Services, is an inspiring leader who thrives on passion and excellence.
Hailing from a family of engineers, IT piqued her interest and came very naturally as a career path to her.
“Though my parents wanted me to study MBBS initially, I was very much fascinated towards Astrophysics. This was due to the inspiration I got from my father’s knowledge on astronomy. But when I got admission into Madras Institute of Technology where Dr. Abdul Kalam, the great aerospace scientist had studied, I decided not to miss such an opportunity. So, I took up engineering and after a period of working in it, I realized that engineering was something I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life,” she said.
Natarajan graduated from Madras Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in electronics and kick-started her professional career as a Java developer in the finance domain. She grew as a leader from the ground up with years of work experience.
She says, “As an entry-level trainee, you will have many possibilities to learn. My first stint was at a financial services company building solutions and platforms in the BFS domain. Further, I got the opportunity to work on large-scale technology transformation projects which helped me to learn and grow as a technology leader.”
Starting as a newcomer in her industry, she completed extensive tenures with notable organizations such as Inautix Technologies, currently part of the BNY Mellon group, and Cognizant Technology Solutions. She climbed the ladder to success through her hard work, commitment, and enthusiasm.
She shares, “I strongly believe that one should reap the benefits of opportunities that one gets. When you get an opportunity, you should ensure that you’re giving it your all and making the best out of it. I strongly believe in continuous learning, and it is essential to keep yourself updated on the latest technologies. Being a leader, you must be a true role model for your team to perform as a team.”
As a resilient leader, she delved into various technology stacks over the years and rapidly adapted to the digital revolution. Currently, as Head of Technology at Omega Healthcare Management Services, she aims to employ her experience to help Omega’s customers in their digital transformation journey. “I have been with Omega Healthcare Management Services for the last one and a half years. It’s been a great journey so far, and I look forward to working with my team to drive digital transformation in the organization,” she averred.
Along with being a dynamic technology leader, she values the “me” time and loves gardening in her spare time. “I enjoy gardening because it provides me serenity and pleasure. I also love traveling since it is exciting and exposes me to new things,” she continued.
Additionally, she enjoys watching cricket matches with her family and is a big fan of Sachin Tendulkar, while her son is an admirer of MS Dhoni. “All of us at home spend quality time watching cricket. Every match is given equal priority, whether international or domestic tournaments. Watching cricket with family is one of my favorite pastimes as it helps us spend quality time together,” she added.
With over two decades spent in the tech field, as a woman leader, Natarajan believes that one has to overcome the challenges and stand intact during tough times. She advises, “Shaping your career by taking the right decisions at the right time is important. It’s ok to take a pause to take care of one’s self and family. You should make decisions based on the circumstances and seek out a path that allows you to achieve a sense of balance in your life.”
Continuing her thrust towards technology, she is geared up to move forward with the digitization goal with her team and aims to bring the company’s presence to a new light. As a leader, she believes that it is very important to build a healthy atmosphere while striving to achieve goals. “I am very excited to be part of this digital transformation journey and looking forward to succeeding while ensuring we enjoy this journey together as a team,” she commented.
